Little by little

Oh, some days I get so impatient.  It feels like nothing is happening, at least nothing that I can see.  Here we are approaching a year from when the promise was first revealed, and from first glance our lives still look the same (more on the how they have changed later).  It's on days like that when I feel tempted to make something happen on my own.  Just in case God has forgotten.

Then He sends me reminders that everything is still in progress ~ just on His timing.  As the Israelites approached the promised land and God gave them instructions, He also gave them a little heads up on the way His timing would work in conquering this new-to-them land that was filled with enemies.

But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.  Little by little, I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.  Exodus 23:29-30

If the full blessing, the full promise were given immediately, it would cease to be a blessing.  That land rich with milk and honey would wither, because they weren't ready (in physical numbers) to maintain it.  So wisely, God lets them know that the blessing will instead be given little by little as they increase and are ready for it.

Oh, this struck me today!  How often do I look at the full promise and whine that it isn't being given, when in fact, the very reason it isn't given yet is to protect it until I have increased enough to bear it.  Until my faith has increased, until my belief has increased, until physical circumstances have been readied for it. Were the promise to be fulfilled before that time, it would cease to be the blessing that it could be.

Lord, help me to always remember that when it feels like nothing is happening.